The goal of our weekly "Making the Leap" watch is to highlight part-time players making the leap to difference-makers or unproven young talents ascending to key contributors. Once players have truly made the leap, they will graduate from this running list.

It's hard to a recall a player who has improved more than Pryor over a six-week span. Defenses are having difficulty adjusting to such an athletic running threat that keeps his eyes downfield and making pass rushers pay with better than advertised improvisational skills as a passer. If Pryor's sandlot style continues to put defenses in a bind, the Raiders will have to start viewing him as the quarterback of the future.

The Cowboys offensive line is wildly outpacing expectations, currently holding the No. 3 spot in Pro Football Focus' grades. Frederick has been among the league's most effective run blockers over the past three weeks.

It's rare to see a rookie safety take on as much responsibility as Vaccaro has, lining up as a deep safety, an in-the-box safety, a nickel back in the slot, a cornerback on the outside, an inside linebacker and an outside linebacker in Rob Ryan's defense. The first-round draft pick is one of the primary reasons the Saints are arguably the most complete team in the NFL this season.

Two picks away from being this year's Mr. Irrelevant, Cooper was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers in early September. After showing impressive cover skills over the first four games, he intercepted a pass and recovered a block punt in the end zone for a touchdown at Tennessee in Week 5. "He can be as good as he wants to be. He has a lot of ceiling," general manager John Dorsey said earlier this week. "He can turn and track the vertical throws and catch the ball. He's got ideal length ... that's the ideal press corner."